Pelican Standard Kayak Paddle - Aluminum Shaft and Polypropylene Blade

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Ovalization: The Right side shaft goes from a rounded shape to a slightly oval shape (called indexing) which serves as a reference to where you should be placing your right hand. This slight flattening of the shaft gives you a physical clue of where to place your hand for the perfect grip. There are several factors that go into choosing the best paddle for you. Your height, along with the width of your kayak sits in the water are the most important factors. This is a general guideline for the best length for you. If you have a fishing kayak, choose one slightly longer to help you get the best pull thru the water.

Key Features: The shape of your blade goes back to whether you prefer a low-angle or high-angle paddling style. Low-angle blades are narrow and long, which makes them more comfortable for casual and long distance paddling. High-angle blades, on the other hand, are short and wide and are designed for maximum power when paddled at a high angle.

Plastic/ fiberglass reinforced plastic blades are the most economical you'll find, with plastic blades commonly found in recreational kayak paddles. Reinforcing plastic blades with fiberglass can improve performance and durability. Fiberglass is a middle-of-the-road option, offering excellent durability and performance but significantly cheaper than carbon fiber blades. They're a good fit for more committed recreational paddlers and as entry-level touring paddles, with a bit of flexibility making them more impact resistant.

Straight shafts are what most paddlers are familiar with, but an indexed shaft is worth considering if you do a lot of paddling or have wrist issues. This allows you to grip the paddle firmly with your right hand and loosely with your left hand, preventing fatigue and leading to a more pleasurable experience. Most Pelican paddles come with this feature. All of our shafts allow you to 'feather' your paddle blades so they're offset from each other, reducing wind resistance.

Aluminum shafts are easy on your wallet and fairly durable, but can be uncomfortable in extreme temperatures. Pelican paddles offer features like PVC sleeves or PU coatings to address this. Composite materials make for the most lightweight and highest performance shafts, with fiberglass fibers excellent at insulating your hands against water temperature.

Having a lighter paddle allows you to extend your time on the water and do more paddling with less fatigue. More rigid materials perform better while paddling and do a better job turning your effort into forward motion. Higher-end materials are generally tougher and will stand up to everyday wear and tear better than lower quality materials. Pelican offers a range of material combinations from affordable to more expensive.

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